Learning Objective
- Introduction to Modernism in India
- Modern Ideologies and Political Art in India
- The Progressive Artists’ Group of Bombay and the Multifaceted Indian Art
- Abstraction – A New Trend
- Tracing the Modern Indian Art
- The New Figurative Art and Modern Art from 1980s
- New Media Art: from 1990s
Introduction to Modernism in India
Colonial Influence on Indian Art:
- British saw fine arts as European, dismissing Indian ability in this realm.
- 19th-century art schools in India promoted European tastes and Indian crafts adapted to European markets.
Nationalist Art Movement:
- Nationalist art, led by Abanindranath Tagore and E. B. Havell, resisted colonial influence.
- Kala Bhavana (1919): Founded by Rabindranath Tagore at Visva-Bharati University, promoting Indian art with nationalist ideals.
European Influence on Indian Art:
- Gaganendranath and Rabindranath Tagore were influenced by Cubism and Expressionism.
- Gaganendranath: Created a unique Cubist style.
- Rabindranath: Developed a calligraphic, abstract visual style.
Key Artists:
- Nandalal Bose: Supported nationalist art while fostering innovation at Kala Bhavana.
- Benode Behari Mukherjee & Ramkinker Baij: Focused on local environment, including the Santhal tribe; Mukherjee depicted medieval saints, Baij celebrated nature in modern materials.
Jamini Roy:
- Rejected academic art, inspired by folk art and modern European masters like Picasso, creating his own distinctive style.
Amrita Sher-Gil:
- Paris-trained artist blending Indian and European traditions, leaving a lasting impact on modern Indian art despite her early death.
Modern Ideologies and Political Art in India
Impact of Global Events on Indian Art (Post-Sher-Gil):
- WWII & Bengal Famine (1943) spurred rural migration and a humanitarian crisis.
Calcutta Group (1943):
- Founded by Prodosh Das Gupta and others, advocating universal art, rejecting the sentimental Bengal School.
- Focused on simplicity in form, color, and texture.
Influence of Socialism & Marxism:
- Artists, driven by poverty and inequality, embraced Marxism.
- Chittoprasad and Somnath Hore used printmaking to address social issues, with Chittoprasad’s Hungry Bengal pamphlet documenting the famine, displeasing the British.
The Progressive Artists’ Group of Bombay and the Multifaceted Indian Art
Post-Independence Art Movement:
- The Progressives (1946): Led by Francis Newton Souza, including M. F. Husain and others, advocated for political and artistic freedom, challenging traditional norms.
Key Artists:
- Souza: Questioned beauty standards by painting exaggerated nudes.
- Husain: Blended modern techniques with Indian themes, drawing from mythology, miniatures, and folk art. His works, like Mother Teresa, symbolized Indian modern art globally.
Abstraction – A New Trend
Post-Independence Indian Art: Abstraction and Identity
- S.H. Raza: Explored abstraction with landscapes, mandalas, and the bindu symbol.
- Gaitonde & Others: Artists like K.K. Hebbar, Tyeb Mehta, and Krishen Khanna moved between abstraction and figurative art.
- Piloo Pochkhanawala & Krishna Reddy: Pioneered abstract sculpture and printmaking.
- K.C.S. Paniker: Fused abstraction with Tamil/Sanskrit motifs, founding Cholamandalam.
Neo-Tantric Art:
- Biren De, G.R. Santosh, K.C.S. Paniker: Created Indian abstract art inspired by Tantric philosophy.
Group 1890:
- Led by J. Swaminathan, emphasized material and texture, influencing future artists like those in Cholamandalam.
Tracing the Modern Indian Art
- Colonial Influence: Modernism began in the 1930s with artists like Gaganendranath Tagore, Amrita Sher-Gil, and Jamini Roy during British rule.
- Western vs. Indian Modernism: Indian modernism, shaped by colonialism and nationalism, differed from the Western rebellion against realism.
- Nationalism and Identity: Influenced by the Swadeshi movement and Ananda Coomaraswamy, Indian modernism merged traditional styles with modernity.
- Bengal School and Kala Bhavana: Abanindranath Tagore led the Bengal School, guiding artists like Nandalal Bose and Asit Kumar Haldar in traditional styles.
- Distinct Indian Modernism: Artists such as Gaganendranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil, Ramkinker Baij, and Benode Behari Mukherjee created a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
The New Figurative Art and Modern Art from 1980s
- Social and Political Themes: Post-1971, artists used recognizable figures to address social issues.
- Baroda Artists: K.G. Subramanyan, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, and Bhupen Khakhar integrated storytelling and popular art forms.
- West Bengal Artists: Jogen Chowdhury, Bikash Bhattacharjee, and Ganesh Pyne focused on social problems.
- Printmakers: Jyoti Bhatt, Laxma Goud, and Anupam Sud explored themes of conflict and inequality.
- Urban and Social Focus: Arpita Singh, Nalini Malani, and Sudhir Patwardhan depicted urban issues and the oppressed.
- Baroda Art School (1980s): Blended local and historical styles, with Gulam Mohammed Sheikh and K.G. Subramanyan focusing on public art and relief sculptures.
- Public Art: ‘Place for People’ (1981) featured artists like Bhupen Khakhar and Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, with critical input from Geeta Kapur.
- Popular Art Influence: Mumbai artists used popular imagery and experimental techniques.
New Media Art: from 1990s
The 1990s liberalization led to technological advancements and social issues, impacting art.
- Mediums:
- Decline: Easel painting and sculpture.
- Rise: Video, photography, and installation art by artists like Nalini Malani and Vivan Sundaram.
- Photography:
- Photorealism: Used by Atul Dodiya, T. V. Santosh, and Shibu Natesan.
- Documentary: Captured marginalized groups and environmental issues by Sheba Chachi, Ravi Agarwal, and Atul Bhalla.
- Trends: Digital media and social media broadened artistic expressions and gallery presence.
- Advice: Explore local and visiting artists, and engage with contemporary art.
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